Mercury boiler



June 26, 1934. H, J, KERR 1,964,160

MERCURY BOILER Original Filed Sept. 25, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y NN | i i 1 :I V

j/III lllll INVENTOR H. J. KERR MERCURY BOILER June 26, 1934.

Original Filed sept. 25. 192s 5 Sheets-Sheetl 2 WM BY #jk/LLP ATTORNEYS INVENTOR lnvlllllilllll Iliff ont June 26, 1934. H. J. KERR 1,964,160

MERCURY BOILER original Filed sept. 25, 1928 5 sheets-sheet s ATTORN EY June 26, 1934. H KERR MERCURY BOILER Original Filed Sept. 25, 192B 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR M BY #JW I ATTORNEY June 26, 1934-. H. KERR MERCURY BOILER Original Filed Sept. 25, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a given number of tubes gives good heat transfer conditions because the gas stream is much sub-divided as it passes upward over tubes and between headers. The fact that tubes are not connected to any internal parts of the drum such as drum displacers used in other forms of mercury boilers, makes it unnecessary to provide the drums or headers with removable heads and so avoids the difficulties of strong tight joints for such heads. The ends of the headers are permanently closed, preferably by welding and in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, round discs are used to close the rectangular section headers after the ends are forged out to circular section.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the header 3 is shown as being circular in cross section and inserts or fillers 25 are provided in the lower p0rtion of the drum. The inserts 25 have fiat upper surfaces that terminate near the upper ends of the nipples 21 so that it is not necessary to main tain a large body of mercury in the drum in order for the same to enter the tubes 12. Tubes merely pass through these fillers, the presence of which does not affect the attachment or removal of a tube.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the drum 3 is cylindrical except for flat portions 27 into which the rows of tubes 12 are screwed, so as to enter the drum approximately radially.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the header 3 is circular in cross section, the tubes 12 enter approximately radially and the tubes are staggered in two rows that are closely spaced.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, three rows of tubes are shown entering the header 3, which is of circular section with the lower portion flattened where the tubes enter as indicated at 28.

In the modification shown in Fig. 10, the header 3 is circular in section and the lower portion is provided with inserts or fillers 30 to decrease the amount of mercury required. The tubes are welded to the header at the circumference of rings attached to the tubes as indicated at 3l.

In the modification shown in Fig. 11, provision is made for installing three rows of tubes parallel to each other, and entering the circular section header radially. The screw threaded holes in the lower portion of the header 3 are provided with threaded nipples 33, to which the tubes 12 are connected by means of the union nuts 34, the upper fiaring ends of the tubes l2 being pressed against the outer ends of the nipples 33 as indicated at 35. The tubes in the central row 12 are straight and the tubes in the outer rows are bent at their upper ends as indicated at 12', so as to make the tubes parallel with each other though they may diverge.

By this invention each tube can be completely manufactured separate from the drums and the only assembly that is necessary is the attachment of the tubes to the drums. Also when filler blocks are used in the drums, it is not necessary to have any connection between the tubes and the blocks.

I claim:

1. In a mercury boiler, a tube with one end closed and the other end constricted, said tube containing a mercury displacer having a central longitudinal hole, said displacer nearly filling said tube but leaving a narrow annular passageway for rising mercury vapors, and a deector above the upper end of said tube.

2. In a mercury boiler, a tube with one end closed and the other end reduced in diameter and a mercury displacer in said tube of larger diameter than the inside diameter of said reduced end and of smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the main portion of said tube.

3. In a mercury boiler, a header, a plurality of depending tubes extending into the lower portion of said header, each of said tubes containing a mercury displacer having a central longitudinal hole, said displacer nearly filling said tube but leaving a narrow annular passageway for rising mercury vapors, and an extension projecting into said header and constricting the tube discharge to a small annular hollow stream, and spray deiiectors above the upper ends of said tubes.

4. In a mercury boiler, a header, a plurality of depending tubes extending into the lower portion of said header, each of said tubes containing a mercury displacer having a central longitudinal hole, said displacer nearly filling said tube but leaving a narrow annular passageway for rising mercury vapors, said tube and displacer each provided with similarly shaped and spaced extensions forming a vapor outlet discharging a hollow annular stream, and connections between said central longitudinal hole and the inside of the header below the upper ends of said extensions.

5. In a mercury boiler, a header, a plurality of depending tubes extending into the lower portion of said header, each of said tubes containing a mercury displacer having a central longitudinal hole, said displacer nearly lling said tube but leaving a narrow annular passageway for rising mercury vapors, and an extension for said tube and for said displacer and projecting into said header and. cooperatingly shaped to restrict the tube outlet to the discharge of a hollow annular stream, the upper end of said passageway extending above said displacer.

6. In a mercury boiler, a header, a plurality of depending tubes extending into the lower portion of said header, each of said tubes containing a mercury displacer having a central longitudinal hole, said displacer nearly filling said tube but Y.

leaving a narrow annular passageway for rising mercury vapors, and extensions on the tube and displacer projecting into said header and cooperatingly shaped and spaced to discharge a hollow annular stream, and connections between said' displacer holes and the inside of said header, the upper ends of said connections terminating at approximately the same level.

'7. In a mercury boiler, a horizontal header, closed end tubes each containing a displacer dividing the tube space into liquid and vapor passages, and each having a vapor and liquid separator at the open end thereof, said header having tube receiving openings constructed to pass therethrough the aforesaid separators, and means securing the tubes in position with respect to the said header.

8. In a boiler, a horizontal header having tube receiving openings, tubes entering said header through the openings and arranged to carry liquid and vapor to said header, a separator at the header end of each tube, said tube receiving openings being constructed to pass the aforesaid separators therethrough, and means securing the tubes in position with respect to said header.

HOWARD J. KERR. 

